a deal that could destroy over 500,000 jobs in the defense industry. >> so if defense spending is such a big issue this year, why are we on the hook for those tanks? is it drew griffin from our special investigations unit is "outfront" with the story. >> reporter: it's a remarkable sight parked in the california desert. more than 2,000 of them. row upon row of m-1 abrams tanks. built by general dynamics, beginning in the 1980s. most of them are still ready to roll. so when the u.s. army's budget folks sat down to make some tough decisions about what to cut, they saw a great opportunity. postpone what they said would be a $3 billion expense, the refurbishing of hundreds of these tanks at this general dynamics plant in lima, ohio. u.s. army's chief of staff marched up to capitol hill with a great idea. >> in lima, it would cost us $2.8 billion just to keep that open. and we -- our tank fleet is in good shape. we don't need to -- because of the great support we've gotten over the last few years -- >> reporter: and he had support. travis sharp, who studies defense spending at center for a